Campaigners want 'Most Serene Republic' to separate from Italy

(ANSA) - Venice, March 18 - Residents of the affluent
northern Veneto region continued voting Tuesday in an extended
on-line referendum that asked whether they wanted to remain part
of Italy or secede as an independent state.

In total 700,837 people out of a total population of
4,865,380 had in two days taken part in the poll that began on
Sunday and is organised by Plebiscito.eu.

Voters are asked:"Do you want Veneto to become an
independent and sovereign federal republic?".

The results are due to be announced after voting closes on
Friday and follow a survey commissioned by the movement
Idipendenza Veneta which showed that in January, 56.7% of
residents questioned said they were in favour of secession
compared to 53.3% a year before.

The outcome will have only political significance but is
expected to lend weight to a bill currently before the Veneto
regional council calling for a referendum on whether Veneto
should break away from Rome.
Veneto is governed by Luca Zaia of the regionalist and
separatist Northern League party, which supports the initiative.

However opponents on the council, including members of the
centre-left Democratic Party as well as centre-right Forza
Italian and New Centre Right (NCR) oppose the scheme on grounds
that a popular vote on the long-mooted issue would be illegal,
even if it was not legally binding.
"The on-line referendum is confirmation of the fact that
those of us from Veneto take a modern view of the issue," said
Zaia.
"I hope the result of this on-line referendum is a stimulus
for the regional council to approve the bill calling for a
referendum and begin formal proceedings," he concluded.

The on-line referendum has generated considerable interest
by international media, particularly in the UK and Russia.